Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yopriscilla’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Yopriscilla’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; medium-sized daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets; lavender-colored ray florets; and natural season flowering in early September in the Northern Hemisphere.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Yopriscilla’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium, commercially known as a garden-type Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Yopriscilla’.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. and Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new garden-type Chrysanthemum cultivars having inflorescences with desirable inflorescence forms, attractive floret colors and good garden performance.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made in March, 2002 in Salinas, Calif., of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 99-M047, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Yonatasha, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,907, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. in October, 2002. The selection of this plant was based on its desirable inflorescence form, attractive floret coloration and good garden performance.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since January, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yopriscilla has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Yopriscilla’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Yopriscilla’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and full plants.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Medium-sized daisy-type inflorescences with elongated         oblong-shaped ray florets.     -   5. Lavender-colored ray florets.     -   6. Natural season flowering in early September in the Northern         Hemisphere.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were smaller and more rounded         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent         selection differed in inflorescence form as plants of the female         parent selection had decorative-type inflorescences.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the male parent, the cultivar Yonatasha, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were larger than plants of         the cultivar Yonatasha.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences         than plants of the cultivar Yonatasha.     -   3. Ray florets of the new Chrysanthemum were more purple/less         coral in color and retained color longer than ray florets of         plants of the cultivar Yonatasha.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about three days         earlier than plants of the cultivar Yonatasha when grown under         natural season conditions.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Bold Yofelicia, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,215. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Bold Yofelicia in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more rounded than and         not as upright as plants of the cultivar Bold Yofelicia.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer         ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Bold         Yofelicia.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered more uniformly than         plants of the cultivar Bold Yofelicia.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about five days         earlier than plants of the cultivar Bold Yofelicia when grown         under natural season conditions.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Temptress, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,866. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Temptress in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were larger and more rounded         than plants of the cultivar Temptress.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered more uniformly than         plants of the cultivar Temptress.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were less effected by heat         delay than plants of the cultivar Temptress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Yopriscilla’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of the cultivar ‘Yopriscilla’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Leamington, Ontario, Canada during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial garden-type Chrysanthemum production. Rooted cuttings were planted in 15.25-cm containers, grown under artificial long day conditions (four-hour night interruption) and pinched about ten days later. About ten days after the pinch, plants were then exposed to artificial short day conditions (11.5 hours light) until flowering. During the production of the plants, temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 38° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar     Yopriscilla. -   Commercial classification: Daisy-type garden Chrysanthemum. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 99-M047,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar             Yonatasha, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,907. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About four days at 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About ten to twelve days             at 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Perennial herbaceous daisy-type             garden Chrysanthemum. Inverted triangle with rounded crown.             Stems initially upright, then somewhat outwardly spreading.             Freely branching with about ten primary branches with             secondary lateral branches potentially forming at every             node. Moderately vigorous.         -   Plant height.—About 21.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About             3.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Aspect: Mostly             upright to somewhat outwardly spreading. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Length:             About 4.6 cm. Width: About 3.9 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base:             Mostly truncate. Margin: Palmately lobed, sinuses parallel             to convergent. Texture, upper surface: Slightly pubescent.             Texture, lower surface: Pubescent; veins prominent. Color:             Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: More             green than 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: More green than 147B. Venation, upper             surface: Close to 146A. Venation, lower surface: Close to             147B. Petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Petiole diameter: About             2.5 mm. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with elongated             oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals             above foliage, arising from leaf axils. Ray florets             developing acropetally on a capitulum. Freely flowering,             about five inflorescences per secondary lateral branch.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants             flower in early September in the Northern Hemisphere.         -   Inflorescence bud (before showing color).—Height: About             5 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color (lower             surface of phyllaries): Close to 146A to more green than             147A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3.1 cm. Depth (height):             About 9 mm. Disc diameter: About 7.5 mm. Receptacle             diameter: About 4 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong-shaped. Length: About             1.5 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Corolla tube length: About             2.5 mm. Corolla tube diameter: About 1 mm. Apex: Emarginate             or acute. Margin: Fused. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Orientation: Initially upright,             then perpendicular to the peduncle, eventually reflexed.             Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 34 in one to             two whorls. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 155D overlain with close to 77A; color             more faintly overlain with close to 77A with development.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D             underlain with close to 79A; color more faintly underlain             with close to 79A with development.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Length: About 4 mm.             Width, apex: About 1.5 mm. Width, base: About 1 mm. Number             of disc florets per inflorescence: About 52. Color:             Immature: Close to 9A. Mature: Apex: Close to 9A.             Mid-section: Close to 154D. Base: Close to 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 16. Length:             About 5 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, waxy. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to             146A to more green than 147A.         -   Peduncle.—Length: First peduncle: About 2 cm. Fourth             peduncle: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: About 40° from vertical. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to             12A. Amount of pollen: None observed. Gynoecium: Present on             both ray and disc florets. Style length: About 4 mm. Style             color: Close to 154A. Stigma color: Close to 9A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Chrysanthemums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from     0° C. to more than 38° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yopriscilla’, as illustrated and described. 